Why Choose Metric Thin Section Bearings?

Metric thin section bearings save space, reduce weight and dramatically decrease friction in your application. They're ideal for robotics, inspection equipment, satellites and radar where precision and lightweight designs are key.

Standard bearing installation practices can be used for thin section bearings, but they must be installed in a clean, contamination free area because they lack seals. This is to prevent grit from entering the bearing and disrupting its performance.

High Temperature

The small cross section of metric thin section bearings saves space, lowers weight and allows for greater design flexibility. Kaydon Reali-Slim series thin bearing solutions also improve machine efficiency by lowering operating costs and increasing equipment speed.

The performance of metric thin section bearings in high temperatures can be significantly affected by several factors such as load, lubrication, shaft and housing materials and ambient temperature. RBC recommends consulting with an expert to determine the appropriate operating speeds for your application.

Thin section bearings offer a wide range of options, such as alternative race and ball materials, and cage designs including one-piece circular pocket separators, snap-over separators and phenolic. In addition, a variety of shields and seals are available to meet your application's needs. The selection of these options helps ensure your bearings will perform in a wide range of applications. These features, along with their precision tolerances and Annual Bearing Engineering Committee (ABEC) grade, allow them to withstand a variety of environmental conditions.

High Loads

As the name implies, metric thin section bearings can handle a wide variety of loads and speeds. They’re an essential component in many systems where accuracy, speed and space are at a premium. From aerospace telescopes to fridges and ceiling fans, precision thin section bearings improve the overall efficiency of your equipment or machinery, increase productivity and reduce maintenance costs.

Kaydon Reali-Slim thin section hybrid bearings can provide tremendous improvements in performance for specific applications. Changing not only the size but also the race and ball material can dramatically affect how the bearing behaves under load. Pressure maps and time-averaged polar load distribution plots show how the different varieties of REBs interact with their rigid housing.

Silverthin offers standard catalogue options as well as high precision specials for diverse solutions. The possibilities are endless. Let us help you meet your application challenges with accuracy, optimal value and superior performance.

High Speeds

Precision thin section bearings can drastically improve the performance of machinery or equipment at a fraction of the size and weight of standard bearings. They work on a very simple principle that things move better when friction is reduced.

The load rating for a thin section bearing can be impacted by several factors including the characteristics/magnitude of the load, application speed (rpm) and mounting/dismounting methods. Silverthin recommends consulting with an engineer to determine the best load rating for your particular application.

A customer needed a preloaded duplex pair of angular contact RBC Thin Section Bearings to support radial, axial and moment loads in an instrument gimbal assembly for a missile. The Bearings had to meet the required low torque, corrosion resistance and combined load capabilities. The Bearings were manufactured with a light preload and with a PTFE seal to ensure high performance. They also had to be able to operate at very high speeds. The result is a highly accurate, robust and efficient design.

Detachable Side Covers

Because thin section bearings are so much thinner than standard ball bearings, they can be more sensitive to their shaft and housing fits. This is why it is important that you follow the recommended fits, proper assembly and operation, and operate them in a clean, contamination free environment to maintain their performance.

R.A. Rodriguez Ltd offers a wide range of Kaydon Reali-Slim thin section bearing solutions that can save space, decrease weight, reduce friction and increase design flexibility. The series is based on only one small cross section, which remains constant as the bore diameter increases (in contrast to standard bearings, which become wider as they go bigger).

These smaller bearings can also be used in applications that require the precision and hardness of ceramic balls but need to save space or weight. They are ideal in situations like camera gimbals and semiconductor manufacturing where space, light and high accuracy is critical. These hybrid bearings use ceramic balls that require minimal lubrication and are less susceptible to abrasion or foreign body formation.